Electromobility is also having an impact on scooters. The German manufacturer Kumpan aims at the 125 cc combustion disciples.
Driving a scooter is fun. Especially in crowded cities, single-track vehicles have a number of advantages: you can get to your destination faster than you would by car, you can meander through side streets and find a parking space more easily. So it stands to reason that there are also electric scooters that are smooth and brisk. But so far the e-scooters have mainly been limited to the 45 km / h version, but you don’t have much fun with them outside of built-up areas.
The Remagen company Kumpan has taken on this problem and offers with the Kumpan 54i: gnite an e-scooter that can go up to 100 km / h. You don’t have to be afraid of trucks on country roads that are getting bigger in the rearview mirror. The be-all and end-all of an electric vehicle is charging. In contrast to the wing-lined Vespa Elettrica and the Govecs E-Schwalbe, in which the batteries are permanently installed, the Kumpan offers the option of removing the almost ten kilogram battery packs individually and charging them in the apartment.
The standard home charger is made for one package at a time. For us, it took 273 minutes before the cells were filled from zero to 100. The procedure shows that single loading is only an emergency solution. It is more convenient, but not faster, if all three batteries are pumped full of electricity with the docking station (costs 399 euros). It is best to charge the scooter overnight using the charger in the front of the protective shield. A garage is ideal for keeping rain or moisture away from the charger. If you travel long distances with your Kumpan, you should buy a top case for 448 euros in which you can store the charger and, if necessary, a helmet. There is definitely no space under the bench. And the third battery costs 1,189 euros extra.
If all three packages are full to the brim with energy, Kumpan promises a realistic range of around 80 kilometers. That’s enough for commuting. In our test drives, we even exceeded this figure with 84 kilometers, although we were often very fast on the road. With perfect operation and if you are not constantly on the move in sport mode, you should even be able to travel up to 110 km. Before our first test drive, the system indicated a range of 101 km. In the city center, the Eco driving mode is easily sufficient, which has a positive effect on the range.
The Kumpan 54i: gnite scooter has a continuous output of 7 kW / 9.5 PS (maximum 11 kW / 15 PS) and is larger than a current Vespa Primavera 125 (8.1 kW / 11.01 PS), but it weighs with 112 kilograms 14 kilograms less. The electric scooter proves to be agile in everyday life. However, the chassis is more tightly tuned and continuously informs the driver of the asphalt quality. The electric vehicle uses the advantages that this type of drive offers and provides three driving modes with different top speeds: Eco (50 km / h), Comfort (75 km / h), Sport (100 km / h) and Rain (75 km / h).
Trimmed for sport, the Kumpan is really fast on the road and also reaches the specified maximum speed via GPS measurement. However, the airflow then tugs at the helmet or neck. Anyone who is often brisk should think about a windshield, which Kumpan says will be available soon. It doesn’t look particularly sexy, but it protects against the wind and also in the rain or cold. When pulling through, the individual programs differ, which is particularly noticeable during overtaking maneuvers that are really relaxed with sport or comfort. The start-up behavior is really well resolved. There is no need for a steam hammer when starting the traffic light. This conveys security and does not pose any problems even to less experienced scooter pilots.
The driving programs can be changed via a menu that is displayed on the seven-inch handlebar touchscreen or the control pad on the right-hand side of the handlebar. We chose the faster route via the D-pad and after a short period of getting used to it, we had few problems with the operation, even with thick motorcycle gloves. This is important to the extent that the menu and the displays are also operated in this way. Here, too, the Kumpan shows the strengths of modern technology. The monitor in the handlebar shows, among other things, the charge status of the individual batteries. The seat bench and the optional top case can also be opened by touch. During the journey, values such as the remaining range can be displayed in the corners if required. That leaves the price. At 6,990, the Kumpan 54i: gnite is not a bargain but is within the range of the other e-scooters. We configured our test vehicle (gray instead of white paint, red seat, third battery) and ended up with a final price of 8,406 euros.
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